Former Real Madrid player Ivan Helguera has delivered a blunt assessment of the current situation at the club in an interview with Flashscore (h/t MARCA).
The former defender criticised Alvaro Arbeloa’s management and questioned the possibility of Jose Mourinho returning to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Criticism of Arbeloa
Helguera spent eight seasons at Real Madrid between 1999 and 2007, making more than 200 appearances and winning three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies.
The 51-year-old former star was critical of Arbeloa for the way things had been run and the fractured state of the dressing room at Real Madrid in the second half of the season.
“What has caused this to happen? It’s because you haven’t managed things well before. From my point of view, everything has always been fine, Arbeloa has always been to blame. Of course, in the end it’s difficult…,” he said.
Continuing, he added: “From a coach, Xabi Alonso, who was more demanding from the start, to zero demands regarding behavior, regarding how I’m going to manage this group. In theory, anything goes. Well, I think all these things have happened, right?
“But Arbeloa, obviously, from my point of view, is largely to blame, but so is whoever put Arbeloa there.”
Helguera expanded on it and criticised the club’s rapid move to entrust Arbeloa with managing a dressing room such as Real Madrid’s.
“Arbeloa was in charge of a reserve team that had only been around for five months, and suddenly… It’s not like things were going particularly well for him. We can’t say if he’s good, bad, or mediocre as a coach,” Helguera argued.
“And suddenly, he’s managing a team like Real Madrid. So, I think it’s not just Arbeloa who has mismanaged things.”
“I simply think he’s never faced these situations before, and he’s clearly made mistakes. Big ones. But those who put him there are also to blame, right?” he emphasised again.
On Mourinho’s potential return
Helguera also made it clear that he does not believe Mourinho is the ideal candidate for the current Real Madrid project.
The former star explained that his preferred option would be Jurgen Klopp, while expressing doubts about Mourinho because of his recent managerial career and the expectations surrounding his possible return.
“Mou has been a fantastic manager. He’s proven that in many places, but it’s true that he hasn’t coached at the top level for many years. So, that worries me. And on top of that, people want him to be a hardliner,” he said.
“Well, I don’t think that just because Mourinho is coming, there has to be a hardline approach to everything that happens at Real Madrid. You have to manage the group well, that’s all. I don’t know if it’s appropriate now.”
